The rejected ring - S01 E09

Story 4 months ago

The rejected ring - S01 E09

Read Story: SEASON 1 EPISODE 9

The Rejected Ring

Episode 9

Evelyn was very happy each time she remembered that Benjamin was in prison.

"Now he will know that rejecting me was the biggest mistake of his life. I told him that if he cannot marry me, no woman will ever marry him."

She was satisfied with the way things were going.

But the police were not relaxed. They needed more proof to nail Benjamin in court. They needed people who would testify against him. So they started asking questions around.

One afternoon, two police officers were discussing outside their station.

"This case is still weak. We only have the Indian he.mp we found in his restaurant. But the judge wants witnesses. Without someone to say they bought it from him, the case will not be strong." One officer said.

"Yes, we must find somebody. We need someone to testify that Benjamin truly sells Indian he.mp in his restaurant. Then the judge will jail him." Another said.

As they spoke, one man from the neighborhood overheard them. The man carried the news to Evelyn because everyone knew she once dated Benjamin.

When Evelyn heard it, she became interested.

"So the police are looking for witnesses? This is my chance. If I testify, Benjamin will never come out again. I will make sure they jail him for life."

That night, she could not sleep. She was restless, walking up and down her room.

"Benjamin thought he was wise. He thought he could dump me and marry Mary. No way! He belongs to me or nobody else."

The next morning, Evelyn dressed up and went to the police station. She told them she wanted to see the officer in charge.

Inside the office, she sat down.

"Good morning, madam," the officer greeted. "How can we help you?"

Evelyn smiled wickedly. "I heard you people are looking for witnesses in Benjamin’s case."

"Yes," the officer answered quickly. "Do you know anything?"

"I know everything," Evelyn said confidently. "I have personally bought Indian he.mp from Benjamin in that restaurant before."

The officer sat up in excitement. "Are you sure of what you are saying?"

"Very sure," Evelyn replied. "I can even testify in court. I want justice. I don’t want people like him to be deceiving society."

"This is good news. You are very brave. We will protect you. Nobody will harm you. Please, prepare yourself."

Evelyn smiled. "I am ready. I will testify. Benjamin must suffer for his crimes."

The police officer did not know that Evelyn was the brain behind the whole setup. He thought she was just a good citizen trying to help.

Meanwhile, things were different for Benjamin’s side. His lawyer was not sleeping. He wanted to save his client at all cost.

One afternoon, the lawyer went to Benjamin’s restaurant. The place had been locked up by the police, but he got a spare key. Slowly, he opened the door and entered.

He walked round the restaurant and shook his head. "So this is the place they said Indian hemp is being sold? It looks too clean for such a dirty business."

As he moved around, his eyes caught something — the CCTV cameras fixed in all corners. His heart jumped.

"Wait a minute," he said to himself. "This restaurant has cameras. Every corner is covered. Maybe the camera recorded something on the day the hemp was found."

He rushed to the office inside the restaurant where the system was kept. He switched on the monitor and began to check old recordings.

Hours passed. He kept forwarding, rewinding, and watching carefully. Suddenly, he shouted, "Yes! Yes! This is it!"

On the screen, he saw a man walking into the restaurant with a nylon bag. The bag was exactly the same one the police said they found.

The lawyer leaned closer. He saw the man sit down, eat, and later stand up to leave. But the bag was no longer in his hand.

The lawyer gasped. "This is the evidence we need! This is the proof that the he.mp was planted."

He replayed it again and again, making sure he was not mistaken. The picture was very clear.

The lawyer quickly copied the video into a flash drive. He raised the flash drive and said, "Now I can prove to the court that Benjamin is innocent."

He was so excited that he rushed straight to prison to meet Benjamin.

Inside the prison visiting room, Benjamin sat down looking tired and broken.

"I bring you good news." The lawyer said.

Benjamin looked up weakly. "What news, sir? They have already destroyed my name. My businesses are suffering. My wedding has been cancelled. I am finished."

"No, you are not finished," the lawyer replied with a smile. "I went to your restaurant today. I checked the CCTV cameras. I saw something that will change everything."

Benjamin became curious. "What did you see?"

The lawyer leaned closer and said in a low voice, "The camera recorded the person who planted the Indian he.mp. The man carried the bag into the restaurant but left without it. That is the bag the police claimed they found."

Benjamin’s eyes widened. "So it was not me! Somebody actually planned all this against me!"

"Yes," the lawyer nodded. "And I know exactly what to do. I will play this video in court. That judge will see it with his own eyes. He will know you are innocent."

Tears rolled down Benjamin’s cheeks. He held the lawyer’s hand firmly. "God bless you, sir. May God reward you for standing by me. I thought my life was finished. I thought I would rot here in prison. Thank you!"

The lawyer smiled again and patted him on the back.

"Don’t worry," he said. "You are being framed. The Indian hemp was planted by someone. I will play this video in court."

To be continued